veillons

Veillons is the plural form of veillon in French, referring to a vigil or festive gathering, especially those held around Christmas or New Year. The term comes from Old French veiller, meaning to stay awake or keep watch, reflecting the tradition of keeping vigil through the night.

In Francophone cultures, veillons are most closely associated with the réveillon, the long festive meal that follows a candlelit Christmas Eve Mass (le Réveillon de Noël) or the New Year’s Eve vigil (réveillon du Nouvel An). The gathering is typically family-centered and may extend late into the night, sometimes accompanied by music, singing, or storytelling, and often followed by gift exchanges or continued socializing.

Regional variations influence the foods served at veillons. Meals commonly feature multiple courses and festive ingredients such as seafood (including oysters in some regions), foie gras, pâtés or smoked fish, poultry or game, and rich desserts like bûche de Noël. The choice of wines or champagne accompanies the feast, reflecting local culinary traditions. In France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec, and parts of Francophone Africa, veillons form an important communal ritual around significant holidays and celebrations.

Today, the term veillons can refer more generally to any vigil or late-night gathering, though it remains most closely linked to Christmas and New Year festivities in many Francophone communities.